English edit

 
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Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English vassal, from Old French vassal, from Medieval Latin vassallus (manservant, domestic, retainer), from Latin vassus (servant), from Gaulish *wassos (young man, squire), from Proto-Celtic *wastos (servant) (compare Old Irish foss and Welsh gwas).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈvæsəl/
    • (file)
  • Rhymes: -æsəl

Noun edit

vassal (plural vassals)

  1. (historical, law) The grantee of a fief, a subordinate granted use of a superior's land and its income in exchange for vows of fidelity and homage and (typically) military service.
    Synonyms: feudatory, feudal tenant
    The manor's vassals owed first fruits and a tithe to the parish church, another 10% to the lord (including at least 50 eels), a week or two each year of service in the manor's upkeep, and service in the local fyrd.
  2. (historical) Any direct subordinate bound by such vows to a superior.
    Synonyms: subject, dependant, bondsman, villein, serf, helot, thrall, servant, slave
    The king ordered his vassals to join him on the crusade unless they had a written note signed by the archbishop or pope.
  3. (figurative) Any subordinate bound by similar close ties.

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

Adjective edit

vassal (not comparable)

  1. Resembling a vassal; slavish; servile.
    • c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
      Did they, quoth you? / Who sees the heavenly Rosaline / That, like a rude and savage man of Inde / At the first opening of the gorgeous east / Bows not his vassal head and strucken blind / Kisses the base ground with obedient breast?

Translations edit

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Verb edit

vassal (third-person singular simple present vassals, present participle vassaling or vassalling, simple past and past participle vassaled or vassalled)

  1. (transitive) To treat as a vassal or to reduce to the position of a vassal; to subject to control; to enslave.
  2. (transitive) To subordinate to someone or something.

Translations edit

Anagrams edit

French edit

Etymology edit

From Old French vassal, from Medieval Latin vassallus (manservant, domestic, retainer), from Latin vassus (servant), from Gaulish *wassos (young man, squire), from Proto-Celtic *wastos (servant) (compare Old Irish foss and Welsh gwas).

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

vassal (feminine vassale, masculine plural vassaux, feminine plural vassales)

  1. vassal

Noun edit

vassal m (plural vassaux, feminine vassale)

  1. a vassal

Descendants edit

  • Danish: vasal
  • Russian: васса́л (vassál) (see there for further descendants)

Further reading edit

Anagrams edit

Hungarian edit

Etymology edit

vas (iron) +‎ -val (with, instrumental case suffix)

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): [ˈvɒʃːɒl]
  • Hyphenation: vas‧sal

Noun edit

vassal

  1. instrumental singular of vas

Derived terms edit

Middle English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Old French vassal.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

vassal (plural vassalles)

  1. A feudal retainer, who is obliged to render military service.
  2. A servant to one’s beloved, professed lover.
  3. As surname.

Descendants edit

References edit

Old French edit

Noun edit

vassal oblique singularm (oblique plural vassaus or vassax or vassals, nominative singular vassaus or vassax or vassals, nominative plural vassal)

  1. vassal

Descendants edit